Dynamic dorsal-blocking adjustable splint

Abstract

A splint positionable about a user's hand for treating phalanx fractures includes a flexible body having a first opening for receiving a thumb therethrough and a second opening for allowing selected metacarpals to extend distally therethrough. The present invention further includes a mechanism for maintaining the end portions at selected spatial relationships and a flexible aluminum plate for engaging fractured metacarpals while allowing medial and distal metacarpal phalangeal joints to move along unrestricted paths respectively. The splint further includes a mechanism for adjusting a length of the plate so that the fractured metacarpals can be adapted between mobile and immobile positions.

1. A splint positionable about a user's hand and for treating phalanx fractures, said splint comprising:
 a flexible body sized and shaped for being removably positionable about the user's hand, said body having a first opening for distally receiving a user's thumb therethrough and further having opposed end portions disposed proximal to the first opening and parallel to a longitudinal plane extending along a top surface of the user's hand, said body further having a second opening spaced from the first opening for allowing selected metacarpals to extend distally therethrough and away from said end portions; 
 means for maintaining said end portions at selected spatial relationships so that a user can readily apply and remove said splint as needed; 
 a flexible aluminum plate having opposed corner portions and for engaging fractured metacarpals along a path substantially transverse to an axis so that associated metacarpal phalangeal joints will be maintained at a selected angle offset from the axis while allowing medial and distal metacarpal phalangeal joints to move along an unrestricted paths respectively; 
 a clamp having opposed end portions adapted to be spaced across a user's palm, said clamp further having a substantially U-shape; and 
 means for adjusting a length of said clamp so that the fractured metacarpals can be adapted between mobile and immobile positions. 
 
   
   
     2. The splint of  claim 1 , wherein said clamp end portions have serrated edges extending obliquely thereto and adapted to be situated medially towards a center of the user's palm, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of brackets adapted to be secured to a proximal end portion of said body and adjacent the user's palm, said brackets being oppositely spaced apart from the axis and including a plurality of rectilinear passageways provided with associated finger portions for locking engaging said serrated edges respectively, said finger portions being integral with said brackets for limiting movement of said clamp end portions along a predetermined direction and cooperating with said brackets to maintain the user's fractured phalangeal joints at the selected angle during operating conditions. 
   
   
     3. The splint of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of pin members pivotally connected to said brackets and said body respectively so that said clamp can be selectively pivoted along straight paths and provide tolerable movement of the user's fractured phalangeal joints. 
   
   
     4. The splint of  claim 2 , further comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably engageable through said brackets and for assisting to maintain said clamp end portions at substantially stable positions. 
   
   
     5. The splint of  claim 1 , wherein said plate further comprises: a bottom layer formed from resilient foam material and extending along a length thereof, said bottom layer being positionable against the user's fractured phalangeal joints for providing comfort thereto when said splint is worn during extended periods of use. 
   
   
     6. The splint of  claim 1 , wherein said maintaining means comprises:
 a pair of rigid support members integrally disposed along said body end portions respectively and situated substantially parallel to the axis, said support members being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures aligned along a length thereof respectively; and 
 a plurality of fastening members threadably insertable through associated pairs of the support member apertures so that said body can be securely retrofitted about the user's hand. 
 
   
   
     7. A splint positionable about a user's hand and for treating phalanx fractures, said splint comprising:
 a flexible body formed from durable material and sized and shaped for being removably positionable about the user's hand, said body having a first opening for distally receiving a user's thumb therethrough and further having opposed end portions disposed proximal to the first opening and parallel to a longitudinal plane extending along a top surface of the user's hand, said body further having a second opening spaced from the first opening for allowing selected metacarpals to extend distally therethrough and away from said end portions; 
 means for adjustably maintaining said end portions at selected spatial relationships so that a user can readily apply and remove said splint as needed; 
 a flexible aluminum plate having opposed end corners and for engaging fractured metacarpals along a path substantially transverse to an axis so that associated metacarpal phalangeal joints will be maintained at approximately 90 degrees offset counterclockwise from the axis while allowing medial and distal metacarpal phalangeal joints to move along unrestricted paths respectively; 
 a clamp having opposed end portions adapted to be spaced across a user's palm, said clamp further having a substantially U-shape; and 
 means for adjusting a length of said clamp so that the fractured metacarpals can be adapted between mobile and immobile positions. 
 
   
   
     8. The splint of  claim 7 , wherein said clamp end portions have serrated edges extending obliquely therefrom and adapted to be situated medially towards a center of the user's palm, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of brackets adapted to be secured to a proximal end portion of said body and adjacent the user's palm, said brackets being oppositely spaced apart from the axis and including a plurality of rectilinear passageways provided with associated finger portions for locking engaging said serrated edges respectively, said finger portions being integral with said brackets for limiting movement of said plate end portions along a predetermined direction and cooperating with said brackets to maintain the user's fractured phalangeal joints at the selected angle during operating conditions. 
   
   
     9. The splint of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of pin members pivotally connected to said brackets and said body respectively so that said plate can be selectively pivoted along straight paths and provide tolerable movement of the user's fractured phalangeal joints. 
   
   
     10. The splint of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably engageable through said brackets and for assisting to maintain said clamp end portions at substantially stable positions. 
   
   
     11. The splint of  claim 7 , wherein said plate further comprises: a bottom layer formed from resilient foam material and extending along a length thereof, said bottom layer being positionable against the user's fractured phalangeal joints for providing comfort thereto when said splint is worn during extended periods of use. 
   
   
     12. The splint of  claim 7 , wherein said maintaining means comprises:
 a pair of rigid support members integrally disposed along said body end portions respectively and situated substantially parallel to the axis, said support members being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures aligned along a length thereof respectively; and 
 a plurality of fastening members threadably insertable through associated pairs of the support member apertures so that said body can be securely retrofitted about the user's hand. 
 
   
   
     13. A splint positionable about a user's hand and for treating phalanx fractures, said splint comprising:
 a flexible body formed from durable material and sized and shaped for being removably positionable about the user's hand, said body having a first opening for distally receiving a user's thumb therethrough and further having opposed end portions disposed proximal to the first opening and parallel to a longitudinal plane extending along a top surface of the user's hand, said body further having a second opening spaced from the first opening for allowing selected metacarpals to extend distally therethrough and away from said end portions; 
 means for adjustably maintaining said end portions at selected spatial relationships so that a user can readily apply and remove said splint as needed; 
 a flexible aluminum plate being adaptable to selected shapes and having opposed end corners and for engaging fractured metacarpals along a path substantially transverse to an axis so that associated metacarpal phalangeal joints will be maintained at approximately 90 degrees offset counterclockwise from the axis while allowing medial and distal metacarpal phalangeal joints to move along an unrestricted paths respectively; 
 a clamp having opposed end portions adapted to be spaced across a user's palm, said clamp further having a substantially U-shape; and 
 means for adjusting a length of said clamp so that the fractured metacarpals can be adapted between mobile and immobile positions. 
 
   
   
     14. The splint of  claim 13 , wherein said clamp end portions have serrated edges extending obliquely therefrom and adapted to be situated medially towards a center of the user's palm, said adjusting means comprising a plurality of brackets adapted to be secured to a proximal end portion of said body and adjacent the user's palm, said brackets being oppositely spaced apart from the axis and including a plurality of rectilinear passageways provided with associated finger portions for locking engaging said serrated edges respectively, said finger portions being integral with said brackets for limiting movement of said clamp end portions along a predetermined direction and cooperating with said brackets to maintain the user's fractured phalangeal joints at the selected angle during operating conditions. 
   
   
     15. The splint of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of pin members pivotally connected to said brackets and said body respectively so that said clamp can be selectively pivoted along straight paths and provide tolerable movement of the user's fractured phalangeal joints. 
   
   
     16. The splint of  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of fastening members threadably engageable through said brackets and for assisting to maintain said clamp end portions at substantially stable positions. 
   
   
     17. The splint of  claim 13 , wherein said plate further comprises: a bottom layer formed from resilient foam material and extending along a length thereof, said bottom layer being positionable against the user's fractured phalangeal joints for providing comfort thereto when said splint is worn during extended periods of use. 
   
   
     18. The splint of  claim 13 , wherein said maintaining means comprises:
 a pair of rigid support members integrally disposed along said body end portions respectively and situated substantially parallel to the axis, said support members being provided with a plurality of spaced apertures aligned along a length thereof respectively; and 
 a plurality of fastening members threadably insertable through associated pairs of the support member apertures so that said body can be securely retrofitted about the user's hand.